Healthier food options are now available to UVU students facing food insecurities as the UVU Center for Social Impact (CSI) partners with Community Action Services and Food Bank to start Fresh Food Fridays. This biweekly program brings fresh produce onto campus and is free to any UVU student with a valid UVID.

“Fresh food can be expensive, and eating healthy foods should not be a privilege but a right,” said Kinsey Oldroyd, advocacy and resources assistant coordinator. “Fresh Food Fridays will hopefully eliminate some of the barriers for students to access produce and to be able to use the food in the best ways for them.”

Fresh Food Fridays was created in response to a survey sent out to all students who used the UVU Food Pantry during spring semester 2021. The survey showed that students wanted but didn’t have access to fresh fruits and vegetables.

“Our biggest priorities to help students get access to fresh foods were to give them the autonomy to pick out their food for themselves and get the produce that would best fit their needs,” Oldroyd said. “Fresh Food Fridays was what we came up with, a small farmer’s market type setup where students could come and get the produce they need.”  

Only two things are required to participate in Fresh Food Fridays — a valid UVID card and a reusable bag. Every other Friday during the summer semester, students can come, walk by a table filled with fresh fruits and vegetables, and select the produce they would like. Students then “check out” by entering their UVID and having their produce weighed by a CSI staff member. This data helps CSI and their community partners understand the number of students and the amount of food served during that particular day.

“Everyone deserves access to fresh and healthy food, but there can be barriers that prevent students from accessing and knowing how to cook with fresh produce,” said Amber Hendrickson, program director of impact partnerships at CSI. “Our goal is to eliminate some of those barriers by creating free and easy access, providing meal ideas with recipe cards, and creating some cooking videos later this summer.” 

Depending on student participation, the program will continue into the fall semester on a monthly basis. As part of the CSI’s physical office remodel, the UVU Food Pantry will be expanded to include a fridge and freezer unit to allow for produce to be available year-round.

“I am excited for so many things regarding Fresh Food Fridays,” Oldroyd said. “I am excited that the Food Pantry can finally provide fresh foods, that there will be tons of information available, and that we can meet more of UVU students’ needs and help them succeed in their higher education.”

About the UVU Food Pantry

In partnership with Community Action Services and Food Bank, this on-campus food pantry is available to students, faculty, and staff struggling with food insecurity. The UVU Food Pantry offers canned goods, boxed items, basic hygiene items, and some baby products, such as formula and diapers.

In addition, meal vouchers for campus restaurants are available for use up to three times per semester.